‘Still Alice’ to Close Hamptons International Film Festival, Complete Lineup Announced

'Still Alice' to Close Hamptons International Film Festival, Complete Lineup Announced

The Hamptons International Film Festival has announced its complete slate for this year’s 22nd fest, which will run from October 9-13.

HIFF’s closing night film will be the US Premiere of “Still Alice,” which stars Julianne Moore as a woman suffering from early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease. Moore has been earning rave reviews for her performance, and Oscar buzz has been swirling since the film’s first showing at TIFF.

The opening night film, “St. Vincent,” stars Bill Murray as a retired curmudgeon who is asked by a single mother (Melissa McCarthy) to look after her son. Murray has also been hearing the Oscar buzz for his performance.

It was also announced that Patricia Clarkson will attend the festival on behalf of the film “Learning to Drive,” and will participate in one of HIFF’s “A Conversation With…” panels. Clarkson joins the previously announced Hilary Swank, Mark Ruffalo, Laura Dern and Joel Schumacher who are also participating in their own “A Conversation With..” panels.

SPOTLIGHT FILMSBIRDMAN OR (THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE) (USA)Director: Alejandro G. IñárrituIn an effort to erase the shadow of his biggest on-screen role, the enormously popular Birdman, Riggan Thomson (Michael Keaton) heads to Broadway. He banks his artistic ambitions (and dormant talents) on his upcoming theatrical production of Raymond Carver short stories, but before the footlights shine he must deal with an erratic replacement (Edward Norton), his bitter daughter (Emma Stone), and Birdman himself. Thus the stage is set for Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s brilliant, one-of-a-kind phantasmagoria, powered by unique special effects, exhilarating camera work, and a dynamite cast.

CLOUDS OF SILS MARIA (France)Director: Olivier AssayasAcclaimed director Olivier Assayas’ newest film is a rewarding enigma. At the peak of her career, Maria Enders (Juliette Binoche) is asked to perform in a revival of the play that made her famous twenty years ago. No longer in the alluring young role, she must confront her own insecurities resonating with her vulnerable, older character and the subsequent career shift. Her assistant (Kristen Stewart) represents a version of her younger self, while a scandal-ready Hollywood starlet (Chloë Grace Moretz) takes on Maria’s star-making role. Soon Maria finds herself face to face with ambiguously charming women who are her unsettling reflection.

ELEPHANT SONG (Canada)US PremiereDirector: Charles BinaméAfter the strange disappearance of his colleague, Dr. Toby Green (Bruce Greenwood) is called to the hospital to get to the bottom of the story before word gets out. There, he finds Michael (Xavier Dolan), a troubled and deceptive patient, spinning a web of lies while Nurse Peterson (Catherine Keener), the only one who understands Michael, is repeatedly pushed away. Charles Binamé‘s ELEPHANT SONG, adapted by Nicolas Billon from his play, is a complex, visually striking thriller that blurs the line between doctor and patient. As the stakes get higher, the elaborate mind games get them further from the truth.

THE IMITATION GAME (USA/UK)East Coast PremiereDirector: Morten TyldumBenedict Cumberbatch delivers a monumental performance as British mathematician Alan Turing in Morten Tyldum’s stirring historical drama. Told via flashback, THE IMITATION GAME tracks the young, brilliant, and socially awkward Turing in the early days of World War II as he applies for a top-secret position tasked with decoding the “unbreakable” Nazi cipher machine called Enigma, used to encrypt all military radio transmissions. His work was famously labeled by Winston Churchill as “the greatest single contribution to victory,” but after the war he suffered great personal and professional turmoil as he dealt with his homosexuality in a time when it was illegal.

LAGGIES (USA)East Coast Premiere Director: Lynn Shelton Megan (Keira Knightley) is content to work as a sign flipper for her doting father’s accounting company. When her high school boyfriend proposes at her friend’s wedding, she panics. Pretending to go to a professional-development retreat, she befriends 16-year-old Annika (Chloë Grace Moretz) and hides out in her house with her attractive single dad (Sam Rockwell). Finally feeling liberated, Megan is taken by surprise as their lives suddenly and unexpectedly intertwine. With hilarious performances, Lynn Shelton’s LAGGIES is a nuanced and heartwarming addition to the director’s impressive body of work. Actress Kaitlyn Dever, who plays Misty in the film, will attend the Festival.

THE LAST 5 YEARS (USA)US PremiereDirector: Richard LaGraveneseJason Robert Brown’s THE LAST FIVE YEARS is among the most beloved modern musicals, and writer/director Richard LaGravenese’s invigorating and poignant film is among the most successful stage-to-screen adaptations in years. Academy Award® nominee Anna Kendrick (PITCH PERFECT, UP IN THE AIR) and Jeremy Jordan (SMASH) star as a young couple whose rollercoaster five-year relationship has come to an end. Yet the film traces their romance from two diverging perspectives: following Jamie (Jordan) forwards from their first meeting to their break-up, and following Cathy (Kendrick) backwards from the final heartache to the first stirrings of love.

LEARNING TO DRIVE (USA)US Premiere Director: Isabel Coixet When her husband of twenty years walks out on her, Wendy Shields (Patricia Clarkson) watches her comfortable life crumble overnight. Struggling to reclaim her independence in New York City, she hits a unique roadblock: she never learned to drive. Her life is forever changed when she meets Darwan (Ben Kingsley), a driving instructor and part-time cab driver on the brink of an arranged marriage. In each other’s company, Wendy and Darwan find the courage to ask for directions, the strength to move forward, and a friendship for the ride. The film was the runner-up for the People’s Choice Audience Award at the Toronto International Film Festival.

MADAME BOVARY (UK/Belgium)East Coast Premiere Director: Sophie Barthes The beautiful wife of a small-town doctor engages in extra marital affairs in an attempt to advance her social status, and cure her persistent malaise, in co-writer and director Sophie Barthes’s (COLD SOULS) adaptation of Gustave Flaubert’s seminal 19th century novel. Still widely read (and controversial) to this day, MADAME BOVARY receives a gorgeous, spellbinding, and astute rendering in Barthes’s hands, fleshed out by pristine production values and a great cast, including Mia Wasikowska in the title role and Ezra Miller, Paul Giamatti, and Rhys Ifan in supporting performances.

NIGHTCRAWLER (USA)East Coast Premiere Director: Dan Gilroy NIGHTCRAWLER is a pulse-pounding thriller set in the nocturnal underbelly of contemporary Los Angeles. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as Lou Bloom, a driven young man desperate for work who discovers the world of L.A. crime journalism. Joining a group of freelance camera crews who film crashes, murders, and other mayhem, Lou muscles into the dangerous realm of nightcrawling—where each police siren wail equals a possible windfall and victims are converted into dollars and cents. Aided by Rene Russo as Nina, a veteran of local TV news, Lou blurs the line between observer and participant to become the star of his own story.

SONG ONE (USA)East Coast PremiereDirector: Kate Barker-FroylandAcademy Award® winner Anne Hathaway plays Franny, a PhD student living halfway around the world when she receives tragic news: her brother Henry (whom she stopped talking to after he dropped out of college to pursue music) is in a coma. Returning to New York City, Franny reenters his life through his songs and his love for singer-songwriter James Forester (Johnny Flynn). After meeting James backstage at his concert, Franny is surprised when James shows up at the hospital the next day. What follows is an exploration of two wandering souls, filled with incredible songs by Jenny Lewis and Johnathan Rice.

TIME OUT OF MIND (USA)Director: Oren MovermanGeorge Hammond wakes up one morning in a random ramshackle apartment and is thrown out by the building manager. He has a weeks-old beard and unexplained scratches on his face. He has nowhere to go in particular. He wanders. He is stuck with two minute-to-minute challenges: eating and finding a place to sleep. He is homeless in New York City. Filmmaker Oren Moverman (THE MESSENGER) and star Richard Gere, in a moving performance, wring many heartbreaking truths from this initial premise in TIME OUT OF MIND, a blistering and deeply affecting slice of modern day neo-realism.

TWO DAYS, ONE NIGHT (Belgium/France)Directors: Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc DardenneDirectors (and brothers) Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne are responsible for some of the greatest films of the last 15 years, infused with their trademark formal intensity and commitment to unearthing moral quandaries from social strictures. TWO DAYS, ONE NIGHT is their latest masterpiece, anchored by Academy Award® winner Marion Cotillard’s lived-in performance. Sandra is laid off from her factory job. Her co-workers vote to take their bonuses rather than bring her back to work. But she convinces her boss to hold another vote in two days time. Can she persuade her colleagues to give her a second chance?

WORLD CINEMA NARRATIVE

5 TO 7 (USA)Director: Victor LevinAspiring writer Brian Bloom (Anton Yelchin) is at a professional low point when he bumps into a beautiful French woman, Arielle (Bérénice Marlohe). She agrees to see him, but only between 5 and 7 PM. When he finds out “5 to 7” is a French turn-of-phrase meaning she’s actually married, his common sense tells him to stay away, but his heart pulls them closer as the two begin a dreamy love affair. With Glenn Close and Frank Langella in supporting roles as Brian’s parents, this film is as much a declaration of love to New York City as it is an unusual fairy tale.

ALLELUIA(France/Belgium)East Coast PremiereDirector: Fabrice Du WelzGloria (Lola Dueñas) is hesitant to give online dating a shot, but caves to her friend’s insistence and finds herself pleasantly surprised to meet Michel (Laurent Lucas). Seduced by his mysterious charm and good looks, Gloria falls fast for a man she hardly knows. Based on a true story, and inspired by the cult classic THE HONEYMOON KILLERS, Frabice du Welz’s ALLELU IA unravels into a passionate and violent affair led by Dueñas’s groundbreaking performance as a woman willing to do anything to keep her man—even kill. Balancing deep emotions with explosive rage, Welz’s star crossed lovers are simultaneously devoted and destructive.

AMIRA & SAM (USA)East Coast PremiereDirector: Sean MullinA delightfully modern take on the romantic comedy, AMIRA & SAM is a charming confluence of traditional Hollywood-style romance with the reality of life in an age of terrorism. It tells the tale of Sam, an Iraqi war veteran struggling to assimilate into life in an indifferent New York City. Enter into this hectic world the spirited refugee Amira; Sam’s life will never be the same. Starring Martin Starr (FREAKS & GEEKS, SILICON VALLEY), Paul Wesley, and Dina Shihabi, AMIRA & SAM marks the feature film debut of writer/director Sean Mullin.

DANCING ARABS (Israel/Germany/France)East Coast Premiere Director: Eran RiklisBased on the semi-autobiographical novel by screenwriter Sayed Kashua, DANCING ARABS is Eran Riklas’s charming coming-of-age story of Eyud, an Arab-Israeli who leaves his small town of Tira to attend a prestigious boarding school in Tel Aviv. The whip-smart son of a fruit picker (and former communist protester) faces obstacles: the language, his studies, and his Jewish girlfriend. He then meets Yonatan, a classmate with multiple sclerosis, and—amidst a soundtrack of ‘80s punk music—the two become as close as brothers. As Yonatan’s health declines, Eyud drops out of school and must decide what is next for him.

DIPLOMACY "DIPLOMATIE" (Germany/France)East Coast PremiereDirector: Volker SchlöndorffTowards the end of World War II, General Dietrick von Choltitz, the governor of Nazi-occupied Paris, receives an order to destroy the city if the Nazis lose it to Allied forces. With explosives strapped to bridges and landmarks, the General is prepared to carry out this atrocity when Swedish Consul General Raoul Nordling appears in his office and pleads with him to abandon the plan. Adapted from the stage and directed by legendary German filmmaker Volker Schlöndorff (THE TIN DRUM), DIPLOMACY is deeply connected with its moment in history, yet resounds with timeliness in its study of ideologies and the necessary search for common ground.

ESCOBAR: PARADISE LOST (France/Spain/Belgium)East Coast PremiereDirector: Andrea Di StefanoAndrea Di Stefano’s gripping directorial debut unfolds during the final years of Pablo Escobar’s drug reign, told from an unusual perspective. Canadian brothers Nick and Dylan (Josh Hutcherson, Brady Corbet) travel to Colombia for a surfing retreat, where Nick meets Maria (Claudia Traisac), campaigning for her politician uncle. That uncle turns out to be Escobar (Benicio Del Toro). Nick plunges into Escobar’s daily life, and all the violence, mayhem, corruption, surprises, and fierce loyalty that come with it. Based on true events, the film crackles with moral and physical tension.

FANTASIA (China)US PremiereDirector: Wang ChaoIn this quiet melodrama from acclaimed Chinese filmmaker Wang Chao, a family’s trials and tribulations begin to overwhelm them after the patriarch’s sudden illness renders him ill equipped to work. With its specific setting—in southwest China, in a city named Chongqing—and its muted colors and style, FANTASIA is a brilliant portrait of an ever-changing environment and its effects on a family unit. Coupled with Wang Chao’s seamless storytelling, FANTASIA stands apart as a rarefied achievement yet universal as heartfelt drama.

FORCE MAJEURE "TURIST"(Sweden)New York PremiereDirector: Ruben ÖstlundTomas, Ebba, and their two kids are on an idyllic family vacation at a ski resort in the French Alps when a controlled avalanche cascades towards them with no signs of slowing down. In a panic, Tomas makes a run for it, leaving his entire family behind. A favorite at Cannes, Ruben Östlund’s engrossing drama is a masterful and intellectual reflection on the primal instincts that shake the core of the family structure. Unfolding with an assured vision and dark humor, every moment reinforces and comments on the tension between social responsibility and self-preservation.

GABRIEL (USA)Director: Lou HoweLonging for stability in the throes of mental illness, Gabriel (Rory Culkin) will stop at nothing until he proposes to his high school girlfriend—nevermind the fact that they haven’t seen each other in years. Abrasive and irrational, Gabriel nonetheless evokes empathy as he winds his way through New York City and Long Island on his quest, in large thanks to Rory Culkin’s commanding performance. A sure-footed portrait of a young man on the edge, Lou Howe’s debut feature examines our fixation with the nuclear household, and whether or not it’s all it’s cracked up to be.

KUMIKO, THE TREASURE HUNTER (USA)Director: David ZellnerBy day, meek Japanese office worker Kumiko (Rinko Kikuchi, BABEL) lives an extremely structured life. In her own time, she obsessively watches a dubbed VHS of the Coen Brother’s film, FARGO, which she believes to be a true story. Meticulously examining the film and creating detailed maps, she finds the location of Steve Buscemi’s buried briefcase and sets off on an absurdist odyssey to Minnesota to alter her destiny. Inspired by an urban legend, filmmaker brothers David and Nathan Zellner create a beautiful, oddly touching character study anchored by a remarkable performance from Kikuchi.

LIKE SUNDAY, LIKE RAIN (USA)East Coast Premiere Director: Frank WhaleyWhen Eleanor (Leighton Meester) loses her waitress job and dumps her cheating boyfriend (Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong), she unexpectedly lands a live-in nanny gig with an unusual charge: 12-year-old musical prodigy Reggie, whose mother (Debra Messing) is extremely wealthy and not much of a mother. As Eleanor and Reggie (newcomer Julian Shatkin, wise beyond his years) test each other’s boundaries, secrets emerge, and gradually they forge a tender and unlikely friendship. Actor Frank Whaley (PULP FICTION)moves behind the camera for LIKE SUNDAY, LIKE RAIN, which illuminates the wondrous serendipity of life in New York City.

LOW DOWN (USA)Director: Jeff PreissBased on the memoir by Amy-Jo Albany, LOW DOWN is a compassionate look at the complex relationship between Amy-Jo (Elle Fanning) and her father Joe (John Hawkes), a man torn between his musical ambition, his devotion to his teenage daughter, and his suffocating heroin addiction. Set against a sensuously textured 1970s Hollywood, the film beautifully evokes a colorful, seedy world of struggling musicians, artists, and vagabonds, in which Joe and Amy-Jo strive to live the lives they want against seemingly insurmountable odds. Actor Caleb Landry Jones, who plays Cole in the film, is confirmed to attend HIFF.

MINISCULE – VALLEY OF THE LOST ANTS "MINISCULE – LA VALLÉE DES FOURMIS PERDUES" (France/Belgium)East Coast PremiereDirectors: Thomas Szabo, Hélène GiraudIn a peaceful little clearing, the remains of a hastily abandoned picnic sparks warfare between two tribes of ants. At stake: a box of sugar. A bold young ladybug finds himself caught in the middle of the battle between the kindly black ants and the terrible red ants. Each insect is playfully animated with “bug” eyes and spunky character, while the beautiful pastoral backgrounds are not virtual, In a peaceful little clearing, the remains of a hastily abandoned picnic sparks warfare between two tribes of ants. At stake: a box of sugar. A bold young ladybug finds himself caught in the middle of the battle between the kindly black ants and the terrible red ants. Each insect is playfully animated with “bug” eyes and spunky character, while the beautiful pastoral backgrounds are not virtual, but filmed all natural in the south of France. The infinitely charming miniature epic plays out at ground level through blades of grass, behind rocks and over creeks, and is the must-see battle for the (all) ages!

MR. TURNER (UK)Director: Mike LeighThe 19th century British painter J.M.W. Turner (Timothy Spall) was both revered and loathed in his time; an irascible man with a grunt who turned his canvases into awe-inspiring representations of light and shadow. In Turner, master filmmaker Mike Leigh (SECRETS & LIES, VERA DRAKE) creates a rich, tender, and illuminating portrait of an artist with a supreme vision, one that could capture reality with peerless precision yet clouded his social graces. As evoked by Spall’s Cannes award-winning performance and through Dick Pope’s brilliant cinematography, MR. TURNER becomes a unique and essential biopic.

RED AMNESIA "CHUANGRU ZHE"(China)US PremiereDirector: Wang XiaoshuaiMaster filmmaker Wang Xiaoshuai (BEIJING BICYCLE) thrusts us deep into contemporary China with a powerful generational portrait of one family’s struggle to reconcile their past, present, and everchanging future. Deng, a retired widow, attempts to connect with her two grown sons despite their lack of interest and dismissal of her more traditional family dynamics. Life slowly erodes around her until mysterious, anonymous phone calls stir up the family’s history and foreshadow a breaking point for all involved. Simultaneously subtle and edgy, RED AMNESIA is a scintillating thriller deftly exploring the personal and political.

RUNOFF (USA)East Coast PremiereDirector: Kimberly LevinThe beauty of the land cannot mask the brutality of a farm town. As harvest draws near, a determined matriarch Betty (Joanne Kelly, TV’s HOSTAGES) confronts a few harsh realities: a failing business, her husband’s deteriorating health, and a family home on the brink of foreclosure. When presented with an illegal but well-compensated job offer (already turned down by her husband), Betty meets the challenge head-on. First-time writer/director Kimberly Levin follows Betty’s perseverance with astonishing narrative economy and bristling tension, anchored by Kelly’s indomitable central turn.

TU DORS NICOLE (Canada)East Coast PremiereDirector: Stéphane LafleurSet against the dog days of summer, TU DORS NICOLE follows the post-grad drifting of its titular character whose boredom is interrupted by her punk-rocker brother’s sudden return home. Set in a small Quebecois town, this small-scale charmer breezes along with its excellent perfomances, led by up-and-comer Julianne Côté, and wondrous black-and-white cinematography. Indebted to the French New Wave style, director Stéphane Lafleur imbues the film with a pitch-perfect sense of dry comedy that renders TU DORS NICOLE a potent mixture of melancholy and possibility.

WHIPLASH (USA)Director: Damien ChazelleA true sensation out of this year’s Sundance Film Festival, where it won both the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award, WHIPLASH penetrates the explosive dynamic between a committed young jazz percussionist (Miles Teller) and his ruthless music instructor (J.K. Simmons) at a cutthroat Manhattan music conservatory. Where his first feature, GUY AND MADELINE ON A PARK BENCH, evoked the loose, cool styles of street jazz, Damien Chazelle’s follow-up bursts with rhythm and blood, sonic nuance and fiery passion. Featuring two of the year’s best performances in Teller and Simmons.

WILDLIKE (USA)World PremiereDirector: Frank Hall GreenA beautiful trek into the stunning Alaskan wilderness, WILDLIKE follows 15-year-old Mackenzie on her first visit to the last frontier. When her stay with ‘Uncle’ takes a traumatic turn, Mackenzie must embark on a dangerous journey through the wilds alone. On her way she encounters another lone traveler (Bruce Greenwood, THIRTEEN DAYS) and together they offer one another something that cannot be found on any map: a chance at salvation. Starring Ella Purnell (MALEFICENT), Ann Dowd (TRUE DETECTIVE) and Brian Geraghty (THE HURT LOCKER), WILDLIKE is a thrilling and taut emotional journey.

YOUNG ONES (USA)East Coast PremiereDirector: Jake PaltrowIn the near future, water becomes a scarce resource where once prosperous land withers into dust. The survivors carve out the best existence they can. Tempers burn, houses fall, industry pushes forward and the old must make way for the young. Jake Paltrow’s sophomore effort charges old Greek tragedy tropes with a distinctive neo-Western style that reinvigorates the genre and grounds itself with a set of remarkable performances. YOUNG ONES effectively transforms the futuristic American West back into that brutal, classic frontier where anything was possible, and everything was dangerous.

ZERO MOTIVATION (Israel)Director: Talya LavieIt would be difficult for any filmmaker to tell the story of an Israeli-army-coming-of-age tale as a workplace comedy, but that’s what Talya Lavie so brilliantly pulls off with her debut feature. Taking place on an off-the-grid army base—where playing the game Minesweeper and paper shredding are as about as close to combat as one can get—the story follows two young soldiers, Daffi and Zohar, and their mundane experiences in the military. With its wonderful blend of dark humor and emotional poignancy, its unique perspective on army life, and its ability to smartly comment on larger issues, ZERO MOTIVATION is a refreshing, exciting debut.

WORLD CINEMA DOCUMENTARY

ALL AMERICAN HIGH REVISITED (USA)East Coast PremiereDirector: Keva RosenfeldInsightful and charming, at times poignant, ALL AMERICAN HIGH REVISITED takes you back in time to the excess and naiveté of America in the 1980s. The film follows Finnish exchange student Rikki Rauhala throughout her senior year at a suburban California school. A revealing slice of Americana, the film is a John Hughes movie come to life. A critical success during its initial release, REVISITED returns 30 years later to add a final chapter and finally answer the question, whatever became of those archetypes: the jock, the punk, and the prep?

BACK ON BOARD: GREG LOUGANIS (USA)New York PremiereDirector: Cheryl FurjanicA refreshingly candid documentary film, BACK ON BOARD follows four-time Olympic champion Greg Louganis over the past three years as he struggles with financial security and reunites with the sport he once dominated. With unprecedented access, the film reveals the complicated life of an athlete whose grace, beauty, and courage sparked a worldwide fascination with diving. It chronicles Louganis’ rise from a difficult upbringing to nearly universal acclaim as the greatest diver ever, and from pioneering openly gay athlete with HIV to overlooked sports icon.

BANKSY DOES NEW YORK (USA)World PremiereDirector: Chris MoukarbelMillions have followed his work, yet very few know the real identity of controversial street artist, Banksy. Last October, the elusive graffiti artist, painter, and filmmaker completed a month-long residency in New York using the city as his canvas, kicking up dust all over the streets and the Internet. His controversial and often political multimedia work inspired New York artists, activists, and even a few property owners. This new documentary by Chris Moukarbel follows Banksy’s mark on the city primarily through footage shot by his most devoted followers who were there to catch the art before it was destroyed.

A DANGEROUS GAME (UK)US PremiereDirector: Anthony BaxterIn this follow-up to YOU’VE BEEN TRUMPED (HIFF 2011), filmmaker Anthony Baxter is still hot on Donald Trump’s tail as the billionaire sets out to build yet another luxury golf course along the idyllic Scottish seaside. As locals unite to halt construction, their counterparts in Croatia are engaged in a similar battle of public will as they face down developers (and politicians) of their own. A dogged, entertaining storyteller, Baxter weaves together compelling interviews and highlights these David-and-Goliath stories for a purpose: imploring us to take a stand against turning our natural resources into global vacation spots for the ultra-rich.

THE DARKSIDE(Australia)US PremiereDirector: Warwick ThorntonThe glowing screen will be your campfire, your neighbor’s hand your blanket, and your imagination a ticket to the dark side. Curl up in your seat and absorb a collection of haunting, poignant, sad, funny, absurd, and true ghost stories from across Australia. Director Warwick Thornton’s album of matter-of-fact firsthand accounts of life after death will deepen your understanding of the other side while bringing you closer to those people and moments you just can’t leave behind. The remarkable aspect of THE DARKSIDE—similar to death itself—is the power and significance it gains as the end approaches.

DIOR AND I "DIOR ET MOI" (France)Director: Frédéric TchengDIOR AND I takes us behind the scenes of one of the most renowned fashion houses as designer Raf Simons takes over the reins. Simons, best known for his minimalist men’s fashion, works hard to unite his background with that of the illustrious brand. He has only six weeks, as opposed to the usual few months, to prepare for the biggest haute couture event of the year, Paris Fashion Week. As a counterpoint to the glitz and glamour, director Frédéric Tcheng (producer of VALENTINO: THE LAST EMPEROR) takes the camera into the workshops, showing us the hard work that goes on behind the scenes as the skilled artisans bring Simons’ vision to life.

GARDEN LOVERS "EEDENISTÄ POHJOISEEN"(Finland)East Coast PremiereDirector: Virpi SuutariUnflinchingly candid and beautifully romantic, GARDEN LOVERS is an examination of life’s poetry. Following a diverse group of Finnish couples whose passions are rooted in the tender care of their gardens, this documentary frames the delicate mundanity of everyday life with breathtaking stillness and beauty. Lush and verdant, this work by Virpi Suutari is a healing consideration of nature’s grand design; an ultimate homage to the profound and bittersweet splendor of love in all its panoply of form.

THE GREAT MUSEUM "DAS GROßE MUSEUM" (Austria)East Coast PremiereDirector: Johannes HolzhausenGuiding this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, director Johannes Holzhausen takes us behind the scenes with an all-access pass to Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum and its magnificent operations. During last year’s preparations for the reopening of the famed Kunstkammer collection, Holzhausen followed curators, conservators, and administrators, observing how they skillfully keep the museum functioning. Omitting a dramatic score and interviews, Holzhausen opts for a fly-on-the-wall approach, allowing the audience not only to learn about this incredible institution, but also to experience history in the making from within.

HAPPY VALLEY (USA)Director: Amir Bar-LevHAPPY VALLEY centers on the people of State College, Pennsylvania and its conflicted reactions to the Penn State football scandal in the months following Jerry Sandusky’s arrest for child molestation. With interviews with those directly involved and die-hard fans alike, documentarian Amir Bar-Lev (THE TILLMAN STORY, MY KID COULD PAINT THAT) captures the college town as it struggles to define itself in the wake of Sandusky’s crimes and the negligence allegations leveled against coach Joe Paterno, his staff, the college’s administration, and (according to some in the media) the town itself.

IRIS (USA)Director: Albert MayslesThe great documentarian Albert Maysles’ latest film is about fashion- and interior-design maven Iris Apfel, now 93 years old, as she celebrates the late wave of popularity she enjoyed on the heels the Met’s 2006 exhibition of her collection of often affordably priced fashion accessories. Maysles (GREY GARDENS), who pops up from time to time as a cheerful on-camera presence, follows Iris as she makes selections for the touring exhibition, advises young women on their fashion choices, and bargains with store owners, usually in the company of her husband of 66 years, Carl, now 100.

THE LAST IMPRESARIO (Australia)US PremiereDirector: Gracie OttoMichael White helped influence the cultural scene of the 1970s with everything from theater, film, dance, fashion, and beauty—but you’ve probably never heard of him. In this personal documentary, Gracie Otto celebrates the living legend that produced over 200 shows and movies, nurtured countless careers, and brought productions such OH! CALCUTTA!, THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, and MONTY PYTHON’S THE HOLY GRAIL to the world. With interviews from over 50 of his closest (celebrity) friends, THE LAST IMPRESARIO is a worthy tribute to a man who had it all, lost everything, and is still the life of the party.

MEET THE PATELS (USA)New York PremiereDirector: Geeta V. PatelAfter a just-can’t-commit breakup, Indian-American comedian Ravi Patel throws in the towel and agrees to let his endearing parents create a “biodata” for him, officially putting him on the semi-arranged marriage market. Camera in hand (aided by light whimsical animation), his sister Geeta documents the whole endeavor, in hilariously candid fashion, turning Ravi’s international search for a love connection into a uniquely family affair. The two generations of Patels are warm, open, and pragmatic, and their particular brand of optimism makes them ideal tour guides through the cultural conundrums of modern dating in our ever-changing society.

MY ITALIAN SECRET: THE FORGOTTEN HEROES(USA)World PremiereDirector: Oren JacobyWould you risk your life to save a stranger? And then never talk about it? MY ITALIAN SECRET tells the story of sports idol Gino Bartali and other courageous Italians who saved Jews and refugees fleeing the Nazis in World War II. Bartali, the Tour de France cycling champion, made hundreds of trips transporting fake documents in the frame of his bicycle for a secret underground group organized by the Cardinal and the Rabbi of Florence. The living characters return to Italy to reveal the story and thank those who were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for a stranger’s life.NIGHT WILL FALL (UK)East Coast PremiereDirector: André SingerAs Allied forces liberated Nazi concentration camps in the spring of 1945, combat cameramen documented the atrocities they found in order to prove the veracity of the unthinkable horrors being reported around the world. That summer, British producer Sidney Bernstein enlisted Alfred Hitchcock to craft the footage into an ambitious documentary entitled, “German Concentration Camps Factual Survey,” but the project lost political backing by autumn. Seventy years later, Britain’s Imperial War Museums restored and completed the film. Director André Singer traces that film’s history, weaving together unsparingly graphic archival footage and interviews with survivors and liberators.

RED ARMY (USA/Russia)Director: Gabe PolskyIn an exhilarating story played out on Olympic ice, RED ARMY chronicles the rise and fall of the Red Army Hockey Team; the Soviet Union’s most powerful sports dynasty. Making his directorial debut, Gabe Polsky revisits the history of the Cold War using an incredible collection of archival material from both sides of the Iron Curtain. Featuring revealing commentary from the players themselves, including one of Russia’s greatest players Slava Fetisov, RED ARMY skillfully balances the personal and political drama behind one hockey’s greatest stories, revealing the thin line between national hero and political enemy.

THE SALT OF THE EARTH (France)East Coast PremiereDirectors: Wim Wenders, Juliano Ribeiro SalgadoWidely recognized as one of photography’s great artists, Sebastião Salgado has captured humanity through major events, conflicts, starvation, and exodus for over 40 years. With an empathetic eye, his black-and-white photographs give his subjects dignity and respect. Now, joined by his son Julian and filmmaker Wim Wenders, Salgado embarks on an epic journey to capture the planet’s natural beauty. As an intimate look at the man behind the photographs, THE SALT OF THE EARTH is gorgeous and thought-provoking visual odyssey unlike any other.

STRAY DOG (USA)Director: Debra GranikReturning to the Ozarks, Debra Granik (Academy Award® nominee WINTER’S BONE) turns her lens on Ron “Stray Dog” Hall, a burly, aging veteran who manages an RV park and rides his motorcycle cross-country. Shot over three years, STRAY DOG is a humanist portrait of an extraordinary man forever changed by two tours of war. Through his relationships with his fellow vets and his loving wife Alicia, Ron finds the courage to confront his past (from which he still has nightmares) and the will to keep going. Granik breaks down the stereotypes of a community united through remembering and adapting to a changing America.

TWO RAGING GRANNIES (Norway)East Coast PremiereDirector: Håvard BustnesIf the title TWO RAGING GRANNIES implies a couple of grandmothers gunning down bad guys or cursing up a storm against life’s grievances, the truth is, in fact, something more profound and revelatory. Shirley (90) and Hinda (84), on their mobility scooters, set out on a journey across the USA to dispel our government’s economic myths by challenging everyone including professors, advisors, and politicians. No one is safe from these two grannies’ rage as they press forward, determined to answer that burning question in everyone’s mind: How do we get out of this economic mess?

SPECIAL SCREENINGS

KEEP ON KEEPIN’ ON (USA)SummerDocs Audience Award Winner Director: Alan HicksIn his debut, director Alan Hicks spent four years following the charming and sometimes poignant mentorship between jazz-legend Clark Terry and blind piano prodigy Justin Kaulflin, during a pivotal moment in each of their lives. At 89 years old, ‘CT’ has played alongside Duke Ellington and Count Basie; his pupils include Miles Davis and Quincy Jones. But his most unlikely friendship is with Justin, a 23-year-old with uncanny talent but debilitating nerves. Beautifully nostalgic and inspirational, with a reverence for the importance of finding your own sound, KEEP ON KEEPIN’ ON celebrates an iconic musician while introducing one of equal vibrancy.

WELCOME TO SOLDIER RIDE (USA)New York PremiereDirectors: Matthew Hindra, Nicholas KrausIn the summer of 2004, Chris Carney completed a solo bicycle ride across America in support of wounded soldiers. His accomplishment caught the attention of Heath Calhoun, a double leg amputee and Ryan Kelly, a single leg amputee both injured serving in Iraq. Heath and Ryan began planning their own coast-to-coast bike ride and convinced Chris to help. In May 2005 the three riders left California for New York. On this unforgettable journey Chris, Ryan and Heath met veterans and nonveterans who joined the ride. No longer a journey of personal accomplishment, Soldier Ride begins connecting veterans to the communities that they have sacrificed so much for. A percentage of the proceeds will be donated to The Wounded Warrior Project.

SHORT FILMS: COMEDY OF ERRORS

LEONARD IN SLOW MOTION (USA)New York PremiereDirector: Peter LivolsiLeonard lives his life in slow motion. His 120 frames per second existence makes finding love difficult, so he’s willing to go to any lengths to overcome his languidness.

SOURDOUGH “LIEVITO MADRE” (Italy)North American PremiereDirector: Fulvio RisuleoA classic love triangle. But what happens if one part isn’t human? If it’s made of water, flour, and honey?

YES WE LOVE "JA VI ELSKER" (Norway)East Coast PremiereDirector: Hallvar WitzøFour generations, each in crisis, set in four different parts of Norway on Norwegian Constitution day. It’s a party, until it isn’t.

THE CLEAN UP (USA)New York PremiereDirector: Jesse AllenTwo office cleaners seek to hide the dirty truth behind a businessman’s death while finding an avenue to air their grievances with society at large.

THE KÁRMÁN LINE (UK)Director: Oscar SharpA mother contracts an unusual illness and begins to rise gradually into the air.

SHORT FILMS: PLEASE TRY, TRY, TRY AGAIN

PERSON TO PERSON (USA)Director: Dustin DefaWaking up the morning after his party, a man discovers a stranger passed out on his floor. He spends the rest of the day trying to convince her to leave.

THE PHONE CALL (UK)Director: Mat KirkbyHeather works in a helpline call centre. When she receives a phone call from a mystery man, she has no idea that the encounter will change her life forever.

MIKE (UK)East Coast PremiereDirector: Petros SilvestrosMike, a sulky teenager has to do a boring job: take his little brother Jack to the hairdresser. Waiting for him in the car, Mike starts to get worried when Jack takes too long to return so he decides to go and look for him.

ARTUN "ÁRTÚN" (Iceland/Denmark)East Coast PremiereDirector: Guðmundur Arnar GuðmundssonA young boy wants to have his first kiss but has no luck in the small village he lives in. His best friends fill his head with tales of how wild girls are in the city, so he decides to go with them to find out for himself.

FOR THE RECORD (USA)World PremiereDirector: Lev PakmanIn a vapid industrial suburb, a teenage boy is faced with a heavy decision when three older neighborhood boys attack his friend.

SHORT FILMS: DISCOVERY! SHORTS FOR ALL AGES

FEAST (USA)North American PremiereDirector: Patrick OsborneFEAST is the story of one man’s love life as seen through the eyes of his best friend, Winston, the dog.

SILENT (USA)Directors: Brandon Oldenburg, Limbert FabianTwo street performers discover a magical contraption inside an old theater and embark on an adventure traveling through film history to find the audience they always wanted.

RABBIT AND DEER "NYUSZI ÉS ÖZ" (Hungary)Director: Péter VáczThe 2D friendship of Rabbit and Deer is put to the test by Deer’s new obsession to find the formula for the 3rd dimension.

THE DIVE "LE PLONGEON"(France)New York PremiereDirector: Delphine Le CourtoisThirteen and on the edge of adulthood, a boy on a diving board faces his fears.

MIA (Belgium/The Netherlands)Director: Wouter BongaertsMia gets separated from her mother as she is dragged through the crowded city at rush hour. During her adventures she finds what makes the city tick and reminds her mother of what is important.

LAVA (USA)US PremiereDirector: James Ford MurphyInspired by the isolated beauty of tropical islands and the explosive allure of ocean volcanoes, LAVA is a musical love story that takes place over millions of years.

GNARLY IN PINK – FEATURING THE PINK HELMET POSSE (USA)Directors: Ben Mullinkosson, Kristelle LarocheBella, Rella, and Sierra are the three skateboarding members of The Pink Helmet Posse. Despite being six years old, wearing nail polish and pink helmets, there’s no limit to what they can do.

SHORT FILMS: CULTURE SHOCK

BALCONY "BALLKONI" (Kosovo)East Coast PremiereDirector: Lendita ZeqirajA 10-year-old boy is sitting on the edge of a balcony. Neighbors and passers-by, terrified by this situation, call the police and firefighters for help. But the situation quickly becomes unmanageable.

TWAAGA (France)New York PremiereDirector: Cédric IdoBurkina Faso in 1985 is a country in the throes of revolution. Manu loves comics, but when his older brother decides to perform a magic ritual, he realizes there are real powers to rival those of superheroes.

SEAGULLS (Scotland)US PremiereDirector: Martin SmithWhen Ryan visits a new town he struggles to fit in. He attempts to bond with a group of local boys. Things seem to be going well until they go for a trek in the highlands.

ORBIT EVER AFTER (UK)East Coast PremiereDirector: Jamie StoneLiving in orbit, indefinitely, with only your close family for company isn’t easy. This science fiction romance features two star-crossed lovers fighting to overcome their mundane existence.

YOUNG LIONS OF GYPSY "A CIAMBRA" (Italy)Director: Jonas CarpignanoPio, a Romani boy living in southern Italy, learns street smarts from his older brother.

SHORT FILMS: NEW YORK WOMEN IN FILM AND TELEVISION: WOMEN CALLING THE SHOTS

SURE THING (USA)New York PremiereDirector: Deborah ReinischBill takes the only available seat in a café at Betty’s table. Or does he? They’re perfect for each other! Or are they? Shall we start over? Sure thing.

BY ANY MEANS A-VEILABLE "NIQUAB NI SOUMISE"(France/Denmark)East Coast PremiereDirector: Charlotte SchiølerBabette wants to find the perfectly sized apartment in Paris, and prove to her family that she’s capable. So how did she find herself in a café wearing a niqāb, trying to figure out how to drink through the veil?

MY KINGDOM (USA)New York PremiereDirector: Debra SolomonMy kingdom has no castle, no rolling hills and no moat. It’s my personal space… the 24 inches around me, which I must defend to the death. Especially on the subway.

YOU’RE DEAD TO ME (USA)Director: Wu TsangA grieving mother confronts an uninvited family member before her Día de los Muertos celebration. At the end of the night death presents her with a choice.A LIFE WITH ASPERGER’S (USA)Director: Jaime EkkensAn animated documentary that demonstrates Asperger’s is not simply “being a little awkward,” rather it is about adapting to one’s limitations in the face of anxiety and isolation.

SHORT FILMS: STUDENT SHORT FILMS SHOWCASETHE WAY HOME (China)New York PremiereDirector: Ting SongA good son in rural China attempts to help his father who suffers from Alzheimer’s.

JOB INTERVIEW (Germany)Director: Julia WalterLisa’s excitement over a potential new job quickly dissipates when her interviewer begins asking a series of increasingly bizarre questions.

MY NAME IS NINA "ME LLAMO NINA" (Mexico)World PremiereDirector: Aline Beckmann LegorretaMY NAME IS NINA explores the similarities between childhood and old age as Nina meets her grandfather during a serious illness. They quickly become friends and face death with fantasy and innocence.

DIRTY LAUNDRY (USA)New York PremiereDirector: Aaron MartinezAfraid and alone, a young boy must navigate the turmoil of a broken home in order to defeat the terrifying creature that lurks in his basement.

PIGS (USA/Malaysia)Director: Laura MohaiIseng lives with his mother on a pig farm. Feeling neglected, as his mother is grieving the death of her other child, Iseng starts caring for a sick piglet.

SHORT FILMS: SHORTS PLAYING BEFORE FEATURES

PICTURE PARTICLES (Germany)Director: Thorsten FleischSuper 8 found footage. Repetition (in space and in time [and in moderation]) is administered as a binder to tame the wild particles in motion, evoking a golden ratio of the mind’s eye.

AÏSSA(France)East Coast PremiereDirector: Clément Théhin-Lalanne

Aïssa is an illegal immigrant in Paris from Congo. Authorities believe she is over 18. To establish her age a doctor gives her a physical examination.

WEENIE (USA)World PremiereDirector: Dan RoeWeenie is 16. Weenie wants to go to a party. Weenie has just been grounded. Weenie’s mom just doesn’t understand. What will Weenie do?

THE HIGH FIVE (USA)Director: Michael JacobsWhere did the high five come from? Baseball. Homosexuality. Racism. The infamous gesture’s history may very well be more memorable than the slap itself.

DESTROYER (Canada)US PremiereDirector: Kevan FunkTyson, a junior hockey player, struggles after witnessing his fellow teammates commit an act of violence. Torn between his guilt and the fraternity of the team, the burden of silence soon becomes overwhelming.YEARBOOK (USA)Director: Bernardo BrittoA man is hired to compile the definitive history of human existence before the planet blows up.

STRAIGHT MEN, SAME BED (USA)World PremiereDirector: Paul SchneiderA fun and insightful conversation between two actors/artists juxtaposed with the awkwardness and intimacy of spending a night together. Starring Paul Schneider and Sam Rockwell.